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Transition Toolkit

The instruction Manual For Doctors Considering Career Change

Getting Started as a Health Writer

6/30/2022

8 Comments

 
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Doctors, nurses, physician assistants and therapists, among other health care providers, are often interested in health writing. Given the abundance of websites and articles on the Internet, many professionals interested in educating the public about wellness are looking towards authoring magazine articles and online articles to help educate the public about health issues. That is certainly an achievable goal that can be rewarding and enjoyable. Here are questions to the most frequently asked questions about jobs for health writers.

Are there jobs for physician medical or health writers?
There certainly are jobs for health and medical writers. Writing positions for healthcare professionals include textbook writing and editing, authoring test prep materials, professionally editing articles for peer reviewed journals, scientific writing for pharmaceutical companies and medical device companies, technical writing for health regulators, and writing health articles for online websites, magazines, and newspapers.

What are the qualifications to become a medical writer?
The majority of these jobs do not specifically require a medical degree, but they often require subject matter expertise, such as a graduate level or undergraduate degree in the health sciences. Subject matter proficiency beyond the stated job requirement is not necessarily an advantage.
The most important criterion that you will be evaluated on when you apply for a job as a medical writer is the demonstration that you can write for the publication’s target audience. If you want to get a paid job as a health or wellness writer for a public audience, you will be asked to submit writing samples that have already been published in order to show your writing skills. Getting your first few writing samples published is a crucial step in this process because your written pieces are the most important part of your application.
If you are considering applying for a medical writing job at some point in the future, it is worthwhile to work on building a portfolio that includes at least a few published writing samples in advance. 
If you want a job editing scientific manuscripts or medical textbooks or journals, you should begin by authoring several peer-reviewed articles as the lead author. If you envision yourself writing health articles for a general audience, you can start by submitting articles to blogs, websites and magazines.

How can I get a job as a medical writer? 
There are 2 ways to get a paid position as a medical writer.
1. Applying for a job
2. Being recruited for a job
 
Most professional publications use recruiters to find prospective authors who have experience in writing. Some publications list job openings for medical writers and editors on their websites under ‘employment’ or ‘jobs' or other similarly worded links. Another method of finding job openings is by searching job sites. Publishers who hire health writers are typically flooded with applications for the positions they list on job sites, and therefore they screen for the best applicants by evaluating applicants’ published work. 
 
How should I send my writing samples?
It is a good idea to construct a CV than you can use when you apply for writing jobs. Even if you have published strong articles that prompt a recruiter to initiate contact with you, you will be asked to submit a CV if you are interested in pursuing the job offer. You can place links to your writing samples right on your CV under a heading ‘selected publications’ or ‘writing samples,’ along with the title of the article. This makes it easy for senior editors to see your articles and to get a feel for your writing style. Because there are so many applicants for medical writing jobs, positions fill quickly. Therefore, it is best to have your CV ready and waiting for an opening so you can send it right away when you see a posting for a writing job.
 
Building your writing sample library 

A number of websites accept submissions for consideration. The health and wellness websites and blogs that you read might accept submissions from health care professionals.

You can submit an article to the Tips from Your Doctor page of nonclinicaldoctors.com, send your article here.  Some popular guest written articles include How to Prevent Holiday Weight Gain and Hiding Veggies in Your Kids Food.
See tips about how to write health and wellness articles here.

You can also submit an article to the Physician Career Strategies page here.
Popular guest written articles include Physician Contract Negotiation Tips and The Dual MD/MBA.

8 Comments
Peter Scuccimarri, MD, FASAM, FAAFP
1/6/2019 01:33:54 pm

It is that time in my 36 years in medical clinical practice to retire. Oddly, enough what prompted my interest in Medicine over 40's years ago was work in medical writing as a Research Technician at The New York University School of Medicine, copy editing as Assistant Editor at Plenum Press in Manhattan and Associate Editor at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn Press. Other experience strictly as a writer occurred during my years as Features Editor at the New York University Heights Daily News.

More recently, my writing experience comes from serving as President of the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians and Assistant Professor at Wayne State University Department of Family Medicine and Assistant Professor at University of Massachusetts School of Medicine.

I am eager to return to a career in medical writing. A CV and writing sample is available.

Reply
Heidi Moawad
1/15/2019 12:22:00 pm

Dr. Scuccimarri,

Consider applying to one of the medical writing and strategy agencies:
http://www.nonclinicaldoctors.com/medical-writing-and-strategy-agencies.html

If you are more interested in writing for the public as a hobby- you can get started by contacting your local newspaper or university magazine. Employed positions are often listen on LinkedIn

Reply
Aakansha
8/27/2019 09:37:01 am

Course in Medical writing

Dean Phillips link
4/5/2019 04:05:44 pm

I had no idea that there were writing positions in the healthcare field that focus on editing textbooks and peer-reviewed journals. My brother works for an urgent-care clinic as a nurse that has been recently asked to help write an article regarding the importance of urgent-care facilities. They may benefit from enlisting the help of an HEOR writing service to help them complete the article.

Reply
Jhonsons link
1/2/2021 01:19:43 am

I seemed to have no indication that roles on medicine centered on publishing books and reviews reviewed by peers were to be published. My brother works as a nurse for an emergency-care facility and was recently called in to help write an essay on the value of emergency services. To help them perform the paper, they can benefit by recruiting the assistance of a Blankets content writer.

Reply
Minnesota Electric Blinds link
11/6/2022 07:46:14 pm

Hi great rreading your blog

Reply
Nathan S
1/3/2023 03:26:16 pm

Great information and to the point!

I'm very interested in potentially pursuing this field and have some questions. I know typically the people who apply for these positions are those with a PharmD, MD, phD, or some type of doctorate degree. My questions are:

1. Is there a way to land a job as a medical writer with a Masters degree? (i.e. I'm currently applying for PA school and was wondering if right after graduating I can work as a medical writer rather than go into the clinical realm of things).

2. Are there Master's degrees one can get in order to apply to a medical writing position? If so, what are some examples? Is it needed/necessary?

3. I'm not particularly interested in freelance work due to the constant hustle, inconsistency, treating it like a business, taking garbage rates initially in order to build your portfolio and the list goes on and on. What potential routes can you take besides getting a doctorate degree in order to become a medical writer?

4. What's the entry level salary for a medical writer with a Master's degree on their first year out? If I was to pursue this field I would want something that pays 90k or above starting for a medical writer since my age is creeping up on me and I'm running out of time.

5. I don't have the luxury of time to spend 2-3 years to build a portfolio and hope that one day things "may" work out. Is it possible/worth becoming a Physician Assistant so that I could become a full time medical writer working 50 hours a week or more making 90-120k a year and have room for advancement?

I'd like to hear from people who have been in the field for quite some time, those who are 3-5 years in and those who have just started out. I've been struggling for some time now to find a bridge between something I enjoy doing and one that also pays decent money (90k and up).

Thank you and I appreciate your time!

Reply
Heidi Moawad
1/9/2023 10:56:16 am

Hi Nathan, Thank you for your questions. It is more difficult to find a full time position as a medical writer rght out of PA school or any type of medical school. These jobs are usually looking for people who either have a journalism degree or some type of medical experience as well as degree.

Reply



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    Medical Entrepreneurs
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    Contents

    • There is more than one way to be a doctor
    • Additional income sources for doctors
    • The path to a non-clinical physician job
    • Teaching jobs for physicians
    • Managing your finances as an independent contractor
    • Is a non-clinical job right for you?
    • Becoming qualified for a non-clinical job
    • Other options for healthcare providers
    • Regulations know-how
    • Job search mistakes to avoid
    • Creating a website
    • Physician career continuum
    • Feeling trapped in medicine
    • Read this before you drop out if residency
    • Should you take the USMLE if you don't want patient care?
    • A health writing career
    • Health article guidelines
    • How to self publish a book
    • Burning bridges
    • I don't want to be pre-med anymore
    • Writing a book​
    • What are your priorities?
    • Solutions to medical career frustration
    • Quiz-do you want to leave medicine?
    • Solutions for physician mothers
    • Top 10 signs that you need to find a non-clinical job
    • I Know a doctor who seems miserable
    • Career management for the modern physician
    • 7 tips for marketing your book

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  • Non-clinical jobs for doctors
    • How to Find a Non-Clinical Job
    • Medical career strategies
    • Transition Toolkit
    • Physician Success Stories
    • Wound Care Physician
  • Where to find non clinical jobs
    • Job Openings
    • Medical Writing and Strategy Agencies
    • Medical Review Companies
    • Medical Writing Job
    • Clinical Research Training
  • Useful Links
  • Careers for Physicians Without Residency
    • Licensing and Programs for International Physicians
  • Resources For Physicians With Disability
  • Re-Entry Into Medicine
  • Tips from your doctor
  • How to Become a Licensed Physician in the USA